2008 Final Four Betting Odds: Kansas vs. North Carolina

2008 Final Four betting odds have been released for Kansas vs. North Carolina.

North Carolina opened as the -3 1/2 favorite verses Kansas at Bookmaker.com, the oldest established online bookmaker catering to North American gamblers.

Kansas just barely escaped against number 10 seeded Cinderella Davidson, winning by two points in the final seconds of Sunday night's exciting game. 

After Kansas' Sherron Collins missed with 21 seconds left, the 10th-seeded Wildcats got one last chance. Curry was double-teamed, could not get off a shot and was forced to pass to Jason Richards, whose 25-footer from the top of the key thudded off the backboard.

Richards dropped to his back at midcourt while the Jayhawks celebrated with a measure of relief.

"There was definitely some hoping and praying going on there late," Kansas coach Bill Self said.

Things were different on Saturday where North Carolina easily put away number three seeded Louisville.

The Tar Heels have been convincing in their first four wins in the tournament -- winning by at least 10 points in each, which makes them no surprise to be the favorite heading into this Final Four.

Tyler Hansbrough essentially closed the door on Louisville on the next possession. The 6-9 junior got the ball on the left wing with the shot clock winding down, then pump-faked to get Clark up in the air and step in for another jumper over Padgett. The ball swished cleanly through while Hansbrough was knocked to the ground, pushing the lead to 75-66 with 1:33 left.

"I've been playing with him my whole college career," said junior Danny Green, who had 11 points despite needing four stitches to close a cut above his left eye late in the first half. "A lot of shots that he takes and makes, it still shocks me to this day. I'm like, 'How did he get that off and how did he make it?' He's been doing it his whole career."

The baskets left Louisville's players in similar disbelief.

"You see the guy as a junior and he's getting his jersey retired and you're like, 'Why?" said Terrence Williams, who had 14 points for Louisville. "Then you play against him and you say, 'That's why.' He'll go through the floor just to get a rebound. He's a great player."

While the 2008 Final Four featuring Kansas vs. North Carolina will feature plenty of prop bets and other wagering opportunities, both Kansas and North Carolina paid around 2/1 odds in the futures market heading into the Final Four as well.  See odds here.  Kansas paid slightly more than $200 for every $100 bet.  North Carolina paid slightly less.  Odds were expected to hover around 2/1 for both teams throughout the week.

This will be the first Final Four featuring all number one seeded teams. 

2008 Final Four Betting Odds can be found here

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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher CCostigan@CostiganMedia.com

Originally published March 30, 2008 8:51 pm EST